Melin Cryddan (often spelt Melin Crythan) is the actual name of this particular area of Neath.

Melin = Mill

Crydd = Shoemaker/cobbler

Man = Place

The Eaglesbush Valley on the outskirts of Melin contains the Cryddan Brook. This brook once served a mill at the bottom of the valley. The brook is ducted under the Old Road and Briton Ferry Road, eventually reaching the River Neath. The brook gives the name to Melincryddan.

Heol = Road

Ysgol = School

This sign is situated outside the Junior building for Melin Primary School.

Heol = Road

This sign is situated outside the Infant building for Melin Primary School.

Millands is an area in Melin, running along side the river Neath. This area was once the industrial heart-land of Neath with many heavy industries. The Hollywood actor Ray Milland, born in Melin, took his stage name from this area.

Heavy industries were established in the area due to the abundance of coal which was mined locally. Over time, the industrial entrepreneurs gave their names to the new streets and roads within the area e.g. Herbert Road, Evans Road, Walters Road, Gardeners Lane, Cecil Street, Ethel Street, Henry Street and Pendrill Street.

Llan = Church

Awel = Breeze

Briton Ferry is a neighbouring town to Melin. Briton Ferry translates to Llansawel in Welsh. The Welsh name may indicate that the church, llan, is protected from the wind, awel. Alternatively, Sawel may be a derivative of Saul, St Paul's earlier name. He once landed at Briton Ferry. An alternative Welsh name unused today is Rhyd y Brython, a direct translation of Briton Ferry. The Normans referred to the River crossing as La Brittonne and Leland in 1540 as Britanne Fery.

Baglan is named after a Saint Baglan, a 6th century hermit who lived in the area. He founded the church in Baglan and lived in a cell adjoining it.

Llan = Church

Llandarcy is a village near Neath in the Neath Port Talbot county borough and was the site of the first oil refinery in the United Kingdom. It was originally designed as a garden village to house the workers for the BP refinery built between 1918 and 1922.

Bryn = Hill

Coch = Red

Bryncoch is a suburb of the town of Neath in Neath Port Talbot County Borough. The name derives from the Welsh 'red hill', originally the name of a nearby farm.

Aber = Mouth/estuary of the..

Tawe = The name of the River Tawe which runs through Swansea

Swansea is the nearest city to Melin. It's Welsh name Abertawe means the Mouth of the River Tawe.